223 Reload Plinking Ammo

[Colt562]

So I think I am going to start reloading 223/556, not for precision just for some plinking ammo and for drills. I do have some questions though;

1. Can you give me some components that you would use? I have about 1000 pieces of of Winchester white box brass from the local police department. I reload in batches of 50 right now.

2. Do i still need to check headspace? I would guess yes.

3. Im reloading on a single stage (the way i like it)* should I still reload it or is it going to be to difficult because its such a small bullet?

4. Ill be reloading for a Colt AR, I was going to buy lee pacesetter 3 die set is this a good choice?

5. How should I lube them? I was thinking with some hornady one shot inside of a plastic bag.

6. Do I need to brush the inside of the necks?

7. Do I need to crimp?

Some things I would be buying are

lee pacesetter dies, lyman headspace guage, lee case guage to trim,




*i feel progressive is cheating, single stages gives me the benefit of knowing that I created and touched every single round that is shooting out of my ar.

[ExtremeX]

I load for both, precision and plinking...

I don’t think I would ever load plinking ammo on a single stage.... just takes way to long for such a small batch.

I don’t see how reloading on a progressive is cheating; it’s making more efficient use of ur time. You seem to be mixing your ideas of precision hand loads with the efficiency of progressive and still making quality ammo. If it’s a sense of pride working with a single stage that’s fine, it’s not like working with a progressive isn’t the same. You still have to give a high attention to detail, I still “touch” every round, and I just end up with a couple hundred more rounds in a shorter period of time. All the steps are still there, it just happens faster.

Steps like brushing inside of the neck, primer pocket cleaning; all that other jazz to get the cases all up to snuff is something I do only for precision loads that I shoot out past 400+ yards.

For plinking ammo I just try to knock out as many as I can with my progressive. I don’t clean or uniform primer pockets, I don’t brush inside of cases, and I don’t even tumble for a long time… Yes I still end up with ammo that’s more accurate than M193 or M855.

[M27]

1. Can you give me some components that you would use? I have about 1000 pieces of of Winchester white box brass from the local police department. I reload in batches of 50 right now.

for plinking they have some good stuff
http://www.rvow.com/server/index.php/projectiles

3. Im reloading on a single stage (the way i like it)* should I still reload it or is it going to be to difficult because its such a small bullet?

I load 380acp on a single stage you will be fine with 223. I to also only run single stage.

4. Ill be reloading for a Colt AR, I was going to buy lee pacesetter 3 die set is this a good choice?

I don't know about the set specifically but for an AR make sure you have a full length sizing die.

5. How should I lube them? I was thinking with some hornady one shot inside of a plastic bag.

one shot is fine for straight wall cases but tends to have problems with necked cases, I like RCBS case slick

7. Do I need to crimp?

if the bullet has a cannelure roll crimp, if not no crimp to slight taper crimp

I did not answer on things I am not 100% on

[Colt562]

I just enjoy reloading on a single stage, first I don't have the money to just feed it and crank out thousands of rounds at a time, I already have a big stockpile. Reloading is something I do as sort of meditation. I find working in the garage relaxing. I do plan in future when my budget allows to invest in a progressive but for right now, I think I'll stay with single stage

[Clownpuncher]

I reload all my rifle stuff on a single stage. I only use the progressive for pistol. I don't mind it taking longer since I don't shoot my AR nearly as much as my pistols. The Lee 3 die set has worked well for me. I think Lee dies are the best bang for the buck out of all the reloading stuff I own.

[JAGGUY]

I reload .223 on a single stage with Lee dies. No problems at all.

Re: 2. Do i still need to check headspace? I would guess yes....
If you mean case length, I check every case that's new to me...I find once fired cases to be long too often not to check. After that I trim every second reload.

For plinking I use bulk packed 55gr fmg and they work great. I picked some "pulls" not long ago and even though they have marks/dents from being pulled they seem to be as accurate as the bulk mostly. I wouldn't use them for any real accuracy or precision shooting but for blasting they are fine...

[Colt562]

Where would I find these pulled bullets? Gun shows?

[TheExiled]

Where would I find these pulled bullets? Gun shows?

or something like this http://www.evergladesammo.com/bullet...j-bullets.html

[SuperSet]

Wideners sells a bulk pack of 6000 Hornady 55gr FMJBTs for $484. On a single stage, I imagine that it'll take you some time to make your way through it so enjoy that meditation time!

[Colt562]

Thanks theexiled I'll have to look into those, although I was looking for 55gn....now onto the questions